LASIK Consultation

We are proud to partner with TLC Laser Eye Centers for our patients. As an Affiliated Optometrist, we use a team-based partnership with TLC because of a strong track record of safety, experience and patient satisfaction. If you have ever thought of having laser eye surgery, we can help you see if you are a candidate. Our staff will help answer all of your questions and concerns. Give us a call to schedule an appointment with your doctor.

What is Laser Surgery?

Laser eye surgery is an umbrella term for several eye surgeries used to correct refractive errors (i.e., how your eye focuses light). The most common types of laser eye surgery include LASIK, PRK, LASEK and EpiLASIK.

Each of the four laser eye surgery procedures below uses the same special laser, called an “excimer” laser, to reshape the cornea. This is what corrects vision. But laser eye surgery can vary in the specifics of the procedure, the recovery time, which surgical instruments are used and your patient candidacy. You might be a better candidate for PRK, for instance, than for LASIK.

What is LASIK eye surgery?

LASIK eye surgery is a third option, in addition to glasses and contact lenses, that’s used to treat common vision problems (e.g., nearsightedness, farsightedness, astigmatism). It’s been approved since the mid-1990s. In 2001, it became the world’s most common elective procedure.

Who is LASIK eye surgery for?

About 80 percent of the adult population is a candidate for LASIK eye surgery. Many of them share key traits:

Aged 18 or older (so that their prescriptions are more likely to have stabilized)

Have a common vision problem (e.g., astigmatism, farsightedness, nearsightedness)

Lead active lifestyles

Cannot or prefer not to wear glasses and/or contact lenses

Are in general good health

How much does LASIK eye surgery cost?

The national average for Custom Bladeless LASIK—the most advanced, safest type of this surgery—is about $2,000 per eye. Your price might vary based on geography, surgeon experience, package inclusions (such as enhancements for life versus enhancements for the first year after surgery), and other factors.

Most insurance companies do not cover laser eye surgery, because it’s considered an elective procedure for most people. (Firefighters, entertainers, military servicemen and servicewomen and others can sometimes make a case that they need this procedure.) However, many insurance companies negotiate discounted rates with some providers.

One common way for people to pay is through pre-tax dollars from an FSA, HRA or HSA. This can be a fast way to afford laser eye surgery today while saving hundreds in taxes.

How safe is LASIK eye surgery?

Over the years, technologic improvements—especially with Bladeless WaveFront technology—have increased safety. The overwhelming majority of people who opt for surgery experience no long-term complications. Much of the stigma regarding laser eye surgery complications date back to the earliest days of the surgery, when surgeons were less experienced, and laser technology was less advanced.

Immediately after surgery, it’s common to use antibiotic drops and steroid drops to help your eyes heal. This lasts for about a week. The eyes can be sensitive to light in this time frame, and some people experience dry eyes and night haloes for up to several months after surgery (though sometimes longer). Despite this, one of the most common things people say afterwards is that they can’t believe they waited so long to get laser eye surgery. It’s not a bad idea to talk with people who have had LASIK eye surgery to learn first-hand what life during the healing process and life after the healing process are like.